More storms are likely tonight
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 02:35 p.m., June 12, 2008
Updated 02:35 p.m., June 12, 2008
More damaging storms are possible this afternoon and evening in the Topeka and Manhattan areas following last night’s tornadoes in Chapman, Soldier and Manhattan, said Craig Gold, meteorologist for KTKA-TV in Topeka.
Gold said this morning that the Topeka area faces more of a threat than Manhattan, but Manhattan still has an outside chance of being hit again.
“Isolated tornadoes can’t be ruled out, although it does not look like the dynamics are such that it would be as widespread as yesterday,” he said. “But still, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on, with the main threats being hail and damaging winds by this evening and lasting through the night.”
Gold said the storm season thus far, with respect to the Midwest and the nation, has been “incredible.” Regionally, he said he didn’t think this storm season stood out.
“I’m not quite sure where this ranks, I mean historically, across the area,” he said. “Because, I mean, remember, in northeast Kansas we have been pretty lucky as far as the tornado season has been concerned. But it seems as if our luck finally ran out on us last night, and actually last Thursday as well.”
The severe weather season is nearing its end, Gold said; the season normally peaks out in late May or early June, then declines sharply.
“We’re hoping that sharp decline is around the corner," he said, “but so far, no indications of that happening just yet. We’ll just have to keep watching the weather patterns and hope that a more subtle, hot summer... pattern will take over.”